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Off to the the CHB lawn show

Out of bed at 4:30am and having a quick coffee. Then out to the barn to load the truck. It's only 1.3C here, I can see frost on the back deck in the pale light of the rising sun so it's a good thing all the chooks will be riding in the cab.

We're off to the Canadian Heritabe Breeds lawn show. I've entered 5 EOs: 2 marraduna pullets, 2 gorria pullets and a marraduna cockerel. On board will also be 5 self blue d'uccles entered in the show and 9 EO pullets destined for two great new homes.

I'll plan to take some pictures and share the judges feedback on the EOs. Let's hope the flaws the judge points out are ones I'm already aware of!

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

We are it home finally! A long day but glad I went. Lady leghorn is was great meeting you, those 4 young ladies are fortunate to have gone to such a great new home!

I will post details and pictures tomorrow but I am very glad I entered some basques in the show. No surprises from the judge, but I got that second opinion just to make sure there's nothing I've missed. I think we're on the right track folks More tomorrow.

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

I have to say my photos are not the best it was a cool but sunny day until the last hour and then it got cold, windy and rainy and that's when I tried to take photos.

In general for the crowd pleasing factor the marraduna Roo was a real hit. Quite a few people asked me about the breed. The marraduna pullets also received more attention than the two gorria, from the crowd and the judge. This time around I had no gorria rooster to bring along but I suspect it wouldn't have mattered, the marraduna are just too pretty!

Little Guy took Best of Breed. He was so well behaved all day and has never been aggressive so today when I go out to clean the coop I am hoping he is still gentle and non aggressive, this is my biggest fear of showing roosters as I have seen it bring out the worst in them. He is a BHR rooster and is about 14 months old now. Still no white in his tail or on his wings and is very close to correct marraduna coloring in my opinion and the judge agreed. He has a slight bit of white on his earloabe which I was aware of and a slightly wrinkled wattle which the judge didn't point out but when I asked him he said wrinkled wattles are very minor. His comb is nice in size and shape, his beak is yellow with no darker color. His worst trait is his size, he is small. The judge did not note anything I have failed to observe which was reassuring. With only one male there he could not compare him to others for me but this year's roosters are just too young. Plus at least one of my potential keeps is heterozygous barred so I'm not sure I can show him.

The pullets, I showed two marraduna and two gorria. They are all the result of pair breeding this year so of mixed blood lines and none from the same pair. The judge noted no flaws with any I was not aware of. The willow legs he did point out on one. He noted in general the feather quality of the basques was very nice, nice wide thick feathers. Of the two marraduna one was more solid colored, the other more barred. He mentioned the more barred pullet would be a good "male line" breeder while the more solid was better in his eyes for the "female line". This two pen breeding concept is quite common to other breeds and I have to say I think we should try to avoid going down that road!! Out description of the perfect male and perfect female in our SOP should allow for those birds to come from the same breeding pen it at all possible in my opinion.

So in general I think for me and our EOs, yesterday was a success. No twisted feathers, crooked keel, wry tail, roach back, split wing, etc. etc. etc. that I have missed on any of these birds. Not even any more minor flaws. They are all looking good in a general way and that's great news to me.

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

That's awesome! Nice to have that seasoned opinion for sure. Especially for the basic characteristics like wry tail, crooked keel etc. I love that people are starting to get our birds "out and about" in the shows. It will help the breed immensely, not to mention further our own understanding. Well done PG!

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

Well since KRL and I share d'uccles and we were the only two with birds there I guess we won the judge has a bit different opinion on what we'd like to see. This little pullet is my favorite although the judge gave her second.

You'll have to co e out to the Novermber CHB show lady leghorn, I hope to bring even more EOs and d'uccles to that show

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

Lady leghorn wrote:

PG where is that CHB show going to be held?

At the Westerner in Red Deer. It's generally a pretty large show goes for 2 full days. The judge will be a different one so it's a way to get a completely different opinion and Rico and Heather Hayes are generally there for a second and third opinion.

M&K just when I think I'm starting to learn I often get a curve ball so this time I am happy that didn't happen!

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

Well I refreshed Rico's memory of EOs for you IG, I sent him our draft SOP including adding a new description for gorria since we didn't have one yet. He was somewhat familiar with the marraduna from past shows, perhaps your birds? But had never seen gorria before. To be honest I wanted his opinion on type more than anything anyway, color is the easy part for me. I think he was surprised to see a cock with no white in his tail though! You should absolutely put birds in the Coombs show, I think it makes a positive statement about our interest and intent with the breed. I do think it's difficult for judges to understand why we can't just pick a breed already recognized by the APA though!

Re: Off to the the CHB lawn show

It is SOOOOOO cool of you to post these pics and let us know what the Judges said.........it helps me a lot. THANK YOU PG for working so hard to promote what we all already know is "the Best Breed around".....................Mike

I have to keep reminding myself... "It is The Standard of Perfection...NOT the Standard of Quantity that we are striving for..."